Hastings Law School Cuts Raises and Hiring

NY Lawyer reports that Hastings College of Law in California is limiting raises, curtailing hiring and asking department heads to reduce their operating budgets by 5%.Last year the school received $10 million from the state, which represents over 25% of its operating budget.However, Hastings Dean, Nell Newton, explains that the school expects significant cuts this fiscal year and must prepare accordingly.

Despite the cuts, academic dean Shauna Marshall, says that the students will receive the same educational experience.“The changes I’m making are really not noticeable…I’ll probably not take one trip that I would’ve taken.”However, professor Joel Paul, head of Hastings’ international programs, expressed concern regarding the 5% cut, which means less money for international student scholarships and summer stipends.

Hastings is not the only school of higher education to announce cuts for the upcoming year.Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced that it will keep current salaries flat and it will postpone recruiting.UC Berkeley School of Law is considering a hiring freeze, as well.